There is big money at stake when Sporting are going to sell the striker “all” big clubs want after 54 goals in 52 games. During the month, there has been a full rift between Gyökeres and the Portuguese club over the agreement to sell with a 60+10 million euro bid. The Sporting management is playing hard ball and demanding more, the 27-year-old responds by refusing to return to the club. At the same time, there are fewer and fewer clubs that are involved all the way into the bidding battle.
Last week, The Athletic reported that the Swede’s agent had offered Real Madrid to sign the goal machine. Real had signalled they were in the market to sign a striker, but politely turned down Sporting’s star striker due to the potentially high cost and the Swede being seen as a starting striker in the first place. Xabi Alonso has booked a striker with the same profile as Joselu, who left the club in 2024. That is, someone with a strong presence in the box and who is comfortable being second choice in the position.
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Now Spanish Sport Barcelona reports, who have been in a position to sign Gyökeres, are closing the door. According to the Spanish media, Barcelona considered Gyökeres for a while, but after internal discussions, they decided not to go for the striker. Instead, Barcelona have chosen to try to sign a winger, and have landed on Nico Williams.
According to the same newspaper, Barça were “well positioned” in case they had decided to go after the Swede. They had several good cards in hand to be able to lower the price, such as a 40 percent resale clause on Francisco Trincão, which Barca negotiated when Sporting signed the winger in 2023.
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